Hudson County Community College Center for Business & Industry Graduates 40 Individuals from WorkForce 55+ Program
July 8, 2014
The program is designed to provide unemployed, older workers with training and assistance that can lead to sustainable employment.
July 8, 2014, Jersey City, NJ – Unemployment is physically, emotionally, and economically difficult for almost everyone, but it can be especially devastating for older individuals. Men and women in the 55-plus age group are often overlooked as candidates for employment, despite the fact that they have extensive work histories and a host of marketable skills that their younger counterparts do not possess.
In an effort to assist New Jersey’s older residents in continuing to live self-sufficient lives, and contribute to the economic health of the State, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) and New Jersey Council of County Colleges’ (NJCCC) College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development devised a special initiative called the WorkForce 55+ Program.
On Monday morning, July 7th, NJLWD Director of Workforce Grants and Program Management Patricia Moran, Ph.D. joined with Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Glen Gabert and NJCCC Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development Executive Director Sivaraman Anbarasan in congratulating forty students graduating from the Workforce 55+ Program at HCCC.
WorkForce 55+ is designed to offer financially disadvantaged workers 55 years of age and older with opportunities to receive paid, on-the-job training, and to develop work experience that will lead to unsubsidized employment. The federally funded program is providing training to approximately 250 individuals from thirteen counties at Hudson County Community College, and nine other New Jersey community colleges.
The HCCC program had the largest number of participants of any in the State, and was administered by the College’s Center for Business & Industry.
“The 55-plus age group can play an important role in contributing to the growth and development of commercial and nonprofit enterprises. This ‘earn-while-you-learn’ program is vital to the economic wellbeing of our community and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Dr. Gabert.
HCCC Center for Business & Industry Executive Director, Ana Chapman-McCausland, explained that participants in the WorkForce 55+ Program received individualized and small-group instruction in financial literacy, computer skills, interviewing skills, and job-search techniques using social media. Participants also received assessment and counseling, and were introduced to the State’s Jobs4Jersey.com website which focuses on identifying how individual skill sets may be transferable to a variety of job openings.
“The WorkForce 55+ Program helps to bridge any skill deficiencies that our participants may have, and it helps to prepare them to be more successful in securing a job in today’s technology-based employment environment,” Ms. Chapman-McCausland stated.
Additional information about the NJ WorkForce 55+ Program may be obtained by logging onto Jobs4Jersey.com and clicking on the “Older Workers” link. Information about eligibility criteria, and applying to participate in the program, is available at the Hudson County One-Stop Career Centers at 438 Summit Avenue in Jersey City and 530 48th Street in Union City.
The HCCC Center for Business & Industry (CBI) is dedicated to providing the Hudson County community with the skilled and educated workforce that will allow the area to prosper in today’s global economy.
The HCCC CBI is committed to partnering with businesses, industries, government, and community-based organizations, and to producing and delivering high-quality, cost-effective and customized training at times and places that are convenient to the organizations.
The organization is also committed to formulating and offering classes and courses for individuals that are relevant to the present and future business needs of the global economy, and that will lead to employment, and to job/career advancement.
The HCCC Center for Business & Industry is a member of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, and a preferred provider of customized training recognized by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.